Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has fixed Oct 15 as the deadline for submitting the investigation report on the crimes against humanity allegations against Awami League leader Obaidul Quader and 44 others during the July Uprising.
A three-member tribunal bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder issued the order on Sunday following the prosecution's request for a three-month extension to submit the report.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam represented the state during the hearing, along with MH Tamim.
Among the suspects in the case are former Awami League ministers Anisul Huq, Faruk Khan, Dipu Moni, Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Amir Hossain Amu, Qamrul Islam, Rashed Khan Menon, and Hasanul Haq Inu. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's advisors Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Salman F Rahman are also implicated, along with former state ministers Kamal Ahmed Mojumder and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former MP Solaiman Salim, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, retired judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.
Among them, 16 people, including Anisul, Dipu Moni, Amu, Inu, Salman, and Palak, were produced before the tribunal.
Later, Prosecutor Tamim said the tribunal approved the prosecution's request for more time, setting Oct 15 as the date to submit the investigation report.
VOICE RECORDING IN PRISON: INU SUSPECTS FOUL PLAY
Former minister Inu, who was present in the tribunal, expressed concern that a conspiracy was being plotted against him.
He told the tribunal that his voice had been recorded while in prison and said he was unaware if there was prior permission from the tribunal for this.
His lawyer Abul Hasan also brought the matter to the court’s attention.
Speaking to reporters later, Abul Hasan said: “When they attempted to record [Inu's] voice in prison, he asked for a court order, but no such order was presented.”
“Given recent incidents involving voice recordings, he expressed concern that a conspiracy may be underway against him.”
Later, however, Abul Hasan admitted that there was a tribunal order authorising the recording.
Prosecutor Tamim said, “His voice was recorded for the purpose of investigation. As you know, to verify voice samples obtained from other sources, a reference voice is needed.”
“That’s why the recording was done with prior permission from the tribunal.”
When Inu tried to speak directly in the tribunal, Chief Prosecutor Tajul objected, saying it would waste the court’s time. But tribunal chief Justice Mozumder overruled the objection.
“We will hear him. His lawyer will speak, he will speak, and if necessary, even his relatives may speak,” he said.
On Apr 20, Tajul had said during a hearing that the tribunal had issued arrest warrants in October last year for 45 people, including Quader, based on preliminary evidence linking them to crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.
The ICT was originally formed in 2010 by the Awami League government to prosecute war crimes committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971. The interim government has since taken the initiative to try those involved in the state crackdown on the student-led mass uprising under the same tribunal.